DNA甲基化的表观遗传机制及其在动物遗传育种中应用

Epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation and its application in animal genetics and breeding

中文关键词: DNA甲基化，表观遗传，抗病性，生长发育，动物育种

英文关键词: DNA methylation,Epigenetics,Disease resistance,Growth and development,Animal breeding

中文摘要:

      表观遗传是一类没有产生DNA碱基序列的改变但表型特征却发生变化的调控机制，同时这种变化是可以遗传给后代的。DNA甲基化是DNA分子上的胞嘧啶在DNA甲基转移酶的作用下与一个甲基基团共价结合，被修饰为5-甲基胞嘧啶，进而调控基因表达的一种表观遗传形式。多项研究表明，DNA甲基化对动物的抗病性能、生产性能、繁殖性能均有不同程度的影响，因此探明DNA甲基化的表观遗传机制，能够为分子育种提供理论依据，将有助于更好更快的选育新品种或品系，并充分发挥其遗传潜力。

英文摘要:

      Epigenetics is a kind of regulatory mechanism that does not produce changes in DNA base sequence but changes in phenotypic characteristics. At the same time, such changes can be inherited to future generations. DNA methylation is an epigenetic form in which cytosine on DNA molecule covalently binds to a methyl group under the action of DNA methyltransferase and is modified to 5-methylcytosine, thereby regulating gene expression. Many studies have shown that DNA methylation has different effects on disease resistance, production performance and reproductive performance of animals. Therefore, exploring the epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation can provide theoretical basis for molecular breeding, which will help to better and faster breeding of new varieties or strains, and give full play to their genetic potential.